Dental dam-holder.



PATENTBD' DEC. 22, 1903.

E. S. RINBHART.

DENTAL-DAM HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7.190s.

no MODEL. v

ZNVENTOR W l TNESSES:

vucrouwo Msn N Patented December 22, 1903. Q

T PATENT. OF ICE.

ERWIN S. RINEHART, OF ANAOONDA, MONTANA.

DENTAL DAM-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 747,484, dated December 22, 1903.

Application filed April 7, 1903.

IO fication.

This invention is an improvement in rubher-dam holders and adjusters for dentists, its objectbeing to provide simple, convenient easily-adjustable holders for retaining the rubber sheets used by dentists in making gold fillings in position over the mouth and lower part of the face of a patient.

The invention therefore consists in the novel construction of the dam-holders and in the combination of such parts and connections, as will be hereinafter set forth in the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a complete set of devices, and I will now describe the construction thereof in detail, re-

ferring to said drawings for illustration of the parts; but I do not restrict myself to the specific form, dimensions, or construction of parts shown in the drawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the holding and adjusting devices complete. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section through the holder on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view of the dam- 5 holder-adjusting devices, partly in section.

The dam-holders, of which two are used,

are approximately U-shaped. Each consists of two similar but oppositely-curved members A B, which are pivoted at c to a'link C, so

that they may be adjusted toward or from 5 shown.) Member A is provided withan arm at, extending toward and lapping past an inwardly-extending arm I) on member B, said arms being curved on arcs having pivot c as a center. The arm a is provided with in 5o wardly-bent flanges a a near its outer end,

forming guides for the arm I), which passes therebetween and is pressed upwardly to- Serial No. 151,510. (No model.)

Ward flange a by means of a spring a in flange 0. The upper or outer edge of arm b is serrated, as at b, and adapted to engage with a tooth a on arm a, so as to lock the members A B apart at any distance to which they are adjusted. The arm I) may be pivoted to member B, as to 19 so that its free end may be more easily depressed, so as to disengage its ratchetteeth b from tooth a when it is desired to adjust the outer ends 'of members A B closer together.

The described means of adjusting and looking the members A B relatively apart I now consider the simplest and preferred form; but nevertheless I do not desire to restrict myself thereto, as other means for adjustably connecting arms a b can be readily devised and used.

The link 0 is provided with a slot e, in which is secured one end of a band D of flexible or elastic material, the other end of said band being connected to a slot e in the end of the inner or base plate E of the take-up device, which is composed of inner plate E and outer slide. F. On slide F is a catch f, the tooth of which projects through a slot f in the top of the slide in position to engage with tooth on part E and prevent the withdrawal of part F. The catchfis provided with a finger-piecef which when depressed will elevate the tooth f so that the slide F can be moved back and forth on plate E freely. Slide F has a slotf in its rear end, by which it is attached to one end of a band G, of suitable fabric, which is connected at its other end to the link 0 of the companion holder A B at the other side of the head.

I do not herein claim the take-up device, as it forms the subject-matter of another application, filed by me June 11, 1903, Serial No. 161,099.

The metallic parts of the apparatus can be finished in any desired manner, and the operation is briefly as follows: After the dentist has secured the rubber sheet or dam (not shown) over the tooth or teeth to be treated in the usual manner he attaches the holders to the opposite ends of the sheet, (one beside each cheek of the wearer,) passing band G around or over the head of the patient and taking up slack therein by moving slide F inward over plate 'E. The sheet is spread out by opening the holders A B, which are held distended by the lock connection between arms a b. By means of these devices the rubber dam can be quickly placed and adjusted properly with less discomfort to the patient and can also be readily removed.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. In a dental dam-holder, the combination of opposite members pivoted together to rest upon the cheek, and provided with arms extending toward each other, and means for adj ustably fastening said arms together and to the head-band, substantially as described.

2. In a dental dam-holder, the combination of opposite curved members pivoted together, and provided with curved arms extending toward and overlapping each other, and means for fastening said arms together to hold the members apart, substantially as described.

3. In a dental rubber-dam holder, the combination of the opposite holders, each comprising two members pivoted together, adjustable means for securing, the members in distended positions and a flexible connection between the opposite holders, substantially as described. 7

4. In a dental rubber-dam holder, the combination of the opposite holders, each com prising two members pivoted together extendingarms on the members overlapping each other, means for locking the arms together, and a flexible connection between the opposite holders, substantially as described.

5. In a dental rubber-darn holder, thecombination of opposite holders each consisting of two members pivoted together at one end, said members being provided with inwardlyextending overlapping arms, and means for locking the arms to keep the holder distended, a take-up interposed between the holders and flexible connections between the take-up and said holders, substantially as described.

6. In a dental rubber-dam holder the combination of the opposite holders each consisting of two members pivoted together at one end, said members being provided with oppositely inwardly extending overlapping arms, one of said arms being serrated and adapted to be engaged by a tooth on the other arm to keep the holder distended, a take-up interposed between the holders and flexible connections between the take-up and said holders, substantially as described.

7. A dental dam-holder comprising a pair of opposite holders each consisting of two members pivoted together capable of being distended more or less, and adapted to be engaged with the dam at their outer ends, and a connection between the opposite holders, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ERWIN S. RINEHART.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. JAMES, LEON E. BEAUDRY. 

